International and Comparative Law Review

Currently in its 25th year of publication, International and Comparative Law Review publishes articles written by prominent legal scholars, including professors, attorneys and jurists. Articles critically analyze decisive issues in international and comparative law and are an informative source for leading legal experts.

ILR also publishes quality student written articles, generally referred to as “notes” or “comments.” ILR publishes three issues per year, producing each issue over a period of four months.

ILR Objective

The ILR is a specialty publication that focuses on issues that shape international relations, international law, and the international community. The ILR articles champion issues of global consequence and explore results of international decision-making bodies.

Selection Process

Each year ILR selects between 30-40 highly skilled staff members based primarily on the quality of their write-on competition submissions and partly on their performance in the Legal Research and Writing course. Students entering the second- and third-year day program, as well as those entering the third- and fourth-year evening program, are eligible for ILR membership. ILR is looking for motivated students with a genuine interest in international law.

Membership Benefits

ILR offers Loyola students an opportunity to critically analyze current international issues from a legal perspective. As an ILR staff member, you can expect to sharpen your critical thinking, research and writing skills.

Other benefits of being an ILR member include resume value, employment and professional contacts, camaraderie among students, and leadership opportunities. Additionally, ILR members are in contact with prominent members of the international legal community. ILR staff members receive two units per semester and satisfy the Loyola writing requirement upon submitting an acceptable note or comment.

Membership Responsibilities

All ILR members are staff members for their first year on the Law Review. Staff members are a critical part of the publication process. ILR staff members are responsible for four tasks: (1) working three hours of scheduled office hours per week; (2) completing cite-checking assignments; (3) working on scheduled production days; and (4) writing a note or comment on an international legal topic.

Office Hours

Each staff member must schedule three office hours per week. During this time, staffers are responsible for completing assignments in the office hours box and any assignments that an editor on duty may assign. Such assignments include making substantive and textual edits, inputting edits, source collection, etc.

Out of Office Assignments

Each staff member is also responsible for completing out of office assignments, including but not limited to research and editing articles for substance and correct form. Deadlines for all assignments are strictly enforced.

Note/Comment

Each staff member is also responsible for writing a note or comment. The topic must be of timely international legal significance. Each staff member selects the subject of his or her note or comment at the beginning of the fall semester. Successive drafts of the note or comment are due on announced deadlines. The staff member’s final note or comment must be of publishable quality and will satisfy the Loyola writing requirement. Note & Comment Editors guide staffers through the writing process.

Production Days

Staff members are also responsible for working on production days, usually a Saturday before a final publication, when teams comprised of editors and staffers meet to review articles for accuracy. There are typically four production days per year.

Editorial Board

At the end of each year, editors elect staff members to serve as editors for the following year. Editors are selected based on their effort, quality of work, overall contribution to the journal throughout the entire year including enthusiasm and attitude. Editorial positions receive three units per semester.

Getting Started

ILR staff members participate in an all-day orientation before the fall semester begins. This orientation serves to familiarize staff members with each aspect of the journal.

We encourage your participation in the write-on competition and look forward to your involvement next year as a member of ILR. If you have any questions, please feel free to visit the ILR office on the second floor of Founders Hall or call us at the ILR office. The number is 213.736.1405.